Utah school district under fire for taking away lunches vows to make changes

Salt Lake City – A Utah school district that caused controversy by taking away the school lunches of students whose parents owed money on their food accounts vowed that systematic changes would be made to prevent the occurrence from happening again. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), Salt Lake City School District child nutrition department director Kelly Orton spoke about the matter on Tuesday during a school board meeting.

Orton’s report is quoted as stating, “We took food trays away and embarrassed students, and for that I am sorry…No child will have their meal tray taken away ever again.”

Orton said parents would be notified when their balances fell to $10 or below among other changes to prevent further incidents like this from happening.

The incident, in which 40 students at Uintah Elementary had their lunches thrown away, occurred last month.